WHAT IS AN EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT?
Do you have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree and wish to move to Canada? In this article, we will tell you how to make the best of it and get your degree recognized by Canadian institutions and the government. The way to do it is by obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). As its name suggests, this is an official evaluation that verifies your degree or educational qualification you possess that did not take place in Canada. If any of your qualifications were acquired in the territory, then you would not need one.
The question to answer now is: why is it necessary? Well, the Canadian government ensures that your credentials comply with the country’s educational standards by validating that your degree is equal to a Canadian one. Not to mention that you deserve this recognition after working hard for your degree(s). There are four purposes for this kind of assessment: employment, licensing, continuing your education, and immigration.
When looking for a job, including an ECA to your resume saves you time in the case the job you apply for depends upon proving the Canadian equivalency of your qualifications. Work opportunities are highly competitive, therefore this assessment can be useful when it comes to competing against candidates who have completed their education in Canada or the U.S. Of course, not all jobs require this evaluation; however, in the case your profession is a regulated one, it is most likely that a license granted by a board would be required. Thus, an ECA would be the means to get it. These are two situations in which an assessment would be of use.
Immigration-wise, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizens Canada (IRCC) established that an ECA for immigration purposes is mandatory in most cases. For categories such as the Federal Skilled Workers Program via the Express Entry System it is mandatory and if this is your route, only the principal applicant needs an ECA. However, if your spouse or common partner gets an ECA, it can be a reason to obtain more points in the Comprehensive Ranking System. The second one is to earn points for the education you obtained outside the Canadian territory, regardless of the program you are applying to. Applications take time, so do not be concerned about your ECA’s expiration date. They are valid for five years after the date of issue.
Once you have identified if you need an ECA for one of these purposes, you should be aware that not just any organization can provide these reports and of which one suits your purposes better. There are several options designated by the IRCC to provide an ECA:
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies,
the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada,
World Education Services (WES),
the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), and
the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).
One of the most popular organizations is WES due to its time of processing. However, there are some universities recognized by WES and some that are not. You would have to make sure your university is a listed one. If it is not, do not fret. WES is only one option from the others mentioned above.
There are some professions that are regulated, which means they set their own standards of practice, such as physicians and pharmacists. In these cases, the organizations previously referred to cannot assess those occupations.
In the case of PHYSICIANS, the ECA is obtained from the Medical Council of Canada;
For PHARMACISTS, from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.
For other regulated occupations make sure to check the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website.
Each applicant has different needs and characteristics. Therefore ensure the type of ECA and service you select suits your profile perfectly to succeed in your process.
¿Qué es la Evaluación de Credenciales Educativas (ECA) y para qué sirve? Un Vistazo Detallado
La Evaluación de Credenciales Educativas (ECA) es un proceso instrumental que resonará poderosamente entre aquellos que buscan transitar hacia oportunidades internacionales, particularmente en Canadá. Pero, ¿qué implica exactamente y cuál es su propósito fundamental en tu viaje migratorio o profesional al exterior?
¿Qué es la ECA?
La ECA es un informe que valida tus credenciales educativas obtenidas fuera de Canadá. Al comparar tu educación con los estándares educativos canadienses, este informe es un elemento crítico en varios caminos hacia la inmigración, especialmente en sistemas de puntos como el Entrada Exprés (Express Entry).
¿Por qué es Vital la ECA para Profesionales Internacionales?
La ECA no solo valida tu educación a ojos de empleadores o autoridades canadienses, sino que también te permite acumular puntos en sistemas de selección basados en puntos, amplificando tus oportunidades de éxito en el ámbito migratorio.
¿Cómo Se Procesa la ECA y Qué Instituciones Están Autorizadas?
El proceso de la ECA involucra la verificación de tus credenciales por organizaciones designadas por inmigración de Canadá, como WES. Examinamos los pasos a seguir y lo que necesitas saber para navegar por este proceso con éxito.
¿Cómo Puede la ECA Potenciar Tu Aplicación para Inmigrar a Canadá?
Con una ECA positiva, no solo validas tu educación, sino que también te posicionas favorablemente en sistemas como Express Entry, mejorando tu perfil y aumentando tus posibilidades de ser seleccionado para la inmigración.
Preguntas Claves sobre la ECA
¿Cuánto tiempo toma obtener un informe ECA?
¿Qué documentación se requiere para el proceso?
¿La ECA es mandatoria para todos los programas migratorios en Canadá?
¿Cómo se compara mi educación con los estándares canadienses?
La ECA es más que un procedimiento administrativo; es una herramienta que potencialmente redefine tu trayectoria hacia la inmigración y el empleo en Canadá. Comprenderla, y más importante, navegarla eficientemente, es esencial para maximizar tus oportunidades en el escenario internacional.
¿Listo para emprender tu viaje con la ECA? Conéctate con nosotros para una guía paso a paso y asegura que tu camino hacia oportunidades globales esté pavimentado con éxito y conocimiento.